Cine projector having apparatus for removing film from a cartridge

ABSTRACT

A cine projector provided with an improved film draw out device. The device includes a stripper to peel off the leading edge of the film roll and a drive mechanism to draw out the leading edge of the film. An initiating lever, an intermediate lever supporting the stripper, and a switch lever are provided in such a manner that one end of the switch lever is interlocked with the initiating lever and the other end of the switch lever is interlocked with a projection of the film drive mechanism so that when the leading edge of the film is to be drawn out, the initiating lever is actuated to move the stripper and drive mechanism to contact with the film roll. A counter for indicating the remaining volume of the film in the cartridge and an open type cartridge are also provided.

nited States Patent [191 Suzaki et al.

[451 July 29, 1975 [75] Inventors: Kuniyoshi Suzaki; Yoshihiro Shigeta, both of Tokyo; Torakiyo Yamanaka, Yokohama, all of Japan [73] Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo,

Japan [22] Filed: Oct. 3, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 863,650

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Bolsey 242/197 Blaes 242/192 Bunting 242/207 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mam & .langarathis [57] ABSTRACT A cine projector provided with an improved film draw out device. The device includes a stripper to peel off the leading edge of the film roll and a drive mechanism to draw out the leading edge of the film. An initiating lever, an intermediate lever supporting the strip per, and a switch lever are provided in such a manner that one end of the switch lever is interlocked with the initiating lever and the other end of the switch lever is interlocked with a projection of the film drive mechanism so that when the leading edge of the film is to be drawn out, the initiating lever is actuated to move the stripper and drive mechanism to contact with the film roll. A counter for indicating the remaining volume of the film in the cartridge and an open type cartridge are also provided.

7 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL29I975 897, 025

SHEET v 1 IN VEN TOR.

PATENTEBJULZQISYS 3897, 026

' SHEET 2 PATENTEDJULZQIQYS 3.897, 026

SHEET 3 FIG. 7

\ lOl FIG. 8 I87 PATENTEDJULZSIHYS 3,897, 026

SHEET 4 PATENTEUJULZSIHTE 3,897, 026

SHEET 6 PATENTED LZ IBYB 3,897, 026

SHEET 7 FIG. ISA FIG. I58

FIG. I50

CINE PROJECTOR HAVING APPARATUS FOR REMOVING FILM FROM A CARTRIDGE This invention relates to a cine projector and more particularly to a film feeding mechanism of the projector.

As a film draw out device in cine projector, it has been proposed by French Pat. No. 1,184,987 that a film is drawn out by directly contacting a drive mechanism to the external diameter of the film roll wound up within the cartridge.

The present invention is an improvement of the film draw out device.

An object of this invention is to provide a film draw out device, in which an intermediate lever supporting a stripper for peeling off the film edge and an initiating lever are rotatably supported by a projector body, and a switch lever rotatably supported by said intermediate lever are provided in such a manner that one end of the switch lever is interlocked with said initiating lever and the other end of the switch lever is interlocked with a projection of the film drive mechanism so that the film drive mechanism contacts with the film roll to draw out the leading edge of the film roll.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for removing the slack of the film in the film roll before the film is drawn out by the film draw out device.

Further object of this invention is to provide means for resetting the film draw out device after the leading edge of the film is drawn out.

Further object of this invention is to provide a counter visible from the outside of the projector, by which the remaining volume of the film in the cartridge is indicated.

Further object of this invention is to provide a open cartridge to be used in the present invention.

Above and other objects and advantages of the pres ent invention will be more apparent from the following description referring to the embodiments shown in the attached drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1 through 3 show a first embodiment the film draw out device of this invention, and FIG. 1 shows a normal projection state of the film draw out device, FIG. 2 shows the initial state of film drawing out operation, and FIG. 3 shows a cross section of line III III in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an embodiment for removing the slack of the film in advance of the film drawing out;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of film draw out device, and FIG. 6 showing the state of film drawing out, FIG. 7 showing its principal means, FIG. 8 showing the state of stopping the film drawing out, and FIG. 9 showing the state of the principal means;

FIG. 10 shows one example of a counter to be used in the present invention;

FIGS. 11 and 12 show another example of a counter to be used in the present invention;

FIG. 13 shows a conventional cartridge; and

FIGS. 14, 15a, 15b and 15c show an embodiment of open cartridge to be used in the present invention.

FIGS. 1 through 3 show a first embodiment, in which a film roll 1 is stored within a cartridge 7, and 11 shows a leading edge of the film 1. A stripper 2 is to strip the leading edge 11 from the film roll 1 and has a stop projection 28. An intermediate lever 3 is supported by a shaft 87 planted on the body freely rotatable therearound, and an initiating lever 4 is also supported rotatably around the shaft 87 in this embodiment. An L- shaped switch lever 5 is supported by a shaft 35 planted on the intermediate lever 3, whichalso supports the stripper 2 around a shaft 32 provided on the lever 3. The initiating lever 4 has a stop 41 and a cam groove 42 within which a pin 54 planted on one end of the switch lever 5 is engaged. The other end 56 of the L- shaped switch lever 5 plays a role to press contact a drive mechanism generally designated as 6 to the film roll 1 for drawing out the film by a frictional force. The drive mecahnism has a main drive pulley 61 and other pulleys (two pulleys are provided in this embodiment) and an endless belt 6' suspended around these pulleys. The endless belt 6 is to be rotated by the drive pulley and also the drive mechanism 6 per se can be rocked toward the film surface about the center axis 0 of the main drive pulley 61 with the aid of the projection which is engageable with said other end 56 of the switch lever 5 as described hereinafter, and it is preferable that the direction of this engagement force is perpendicular to the line connecting the rotation center, i.e. shaft 35, of the switch lever 5 and the rocking center 0 of the pulley 61. The upper portion of the initiating lever 4 provides with a spring 92, the other end of which is stopped by a pin 82 planted on the body, and between the projection 28 of the stripper 2 and a pin 81 planted on the body a spring 91 is provided to give a force to the stripper 2 to rotate it counterclockwise. The counterclockwise rotational movements of the initiating lever 4 and the stripper 2 are stopped by stoppers 84 and 83 planted on the body, respectively. In the state of FIG. 2, the film roll 1 itself plays a role of a stopper for the stripper 2, but said stopper 83 is preferrable for playing a role of stopper in case where a magazine is not loaded.

The structure of the main drive mechanism 6 may be considered in various ways, but in this embodiment, the structure is very simple and the force to restore to the original state, i.e. restoring from the state of FIG. 2 to the state of FIG. 1, isgiven by its dead weight so that it is preferrable to provide a stopper 86 planted on the body.

When a cartridge having a film roll is loaded in a projector possesses the state as shown in FIG. 1, except that the leading edge 11 of the film roll 1 is still within the cartridge 7. In this state, it is preferable to remove the slackness in the film roll, and an illustrative embodiment of means for removing such slackness is shown in FIGS. 4 and ,5 as described later.

After the slackness of the film roll is preferably removed, the initiating lever 4 is pushed to rotate clockwise against the spring 92, the intermediate lever 3 is clockwise rotated around the shaft 87 with the aid of the stop 41, which abuts the side of the lever 3. A stopper pin 10 shown in FIG. 2 is so arranged that it will be depressed, when the lever 3 is clockwisely rotated, until the lever 3 goes ahead of the stopper pin 10. As the intermediate lever 3 rotates clockwise, the stripper 2 rotates anticlockwise around 32 under the force of the spring 91 so that the leading edge of the stripper 2 contacts with the film roll 1. The stopper pin 10 restricts the lever 3 from turning to the counterclockwise direction and the initiating lever 4 is rotated counterclockwisely until it is stopped by the stopper pin 84, and the switch lever 5 will rotates clockwise due to the connection of the pin 54 and groove 42. When the switch lever 5 rotates clockwise, its one end 56 hits the projection 65 of the drive mechanism 6 to rock the mechanism 6 counterclockwise around its rotational center of the pulley 61 so that the belt 6' contacts the film roll 1. (FIG. 2).

In the state of FIG. 2, the leading edge 11 of the film roll 1 is drawn out from the cartridge 7 by the geometrical action of the stripper 2 and the drive mechanism 6. When the leading edge 11 is fed into the film path, the device positioned in the state of FIG. 2 is switched to return to the state of FIG. 1 by, for example, a not shown switch provided at the film gate portion. With this arrangement, the first embodiment can be mounted on conventional projectors as an attachment. As one example for restoring the device from the state of FIG. 2 to the state of FIG. 1, a magnet, which is actuated by said switch, is provided to attracting the stopper 10 to release the lever 3 from the engagement with the stopper 10 so that the initiating lever 4 is rotated counterclockwise by means of the spring 92, and the lever 3, stripper 2 and lever 5 restore to their positions as shown in FIG. 1.

As mentioned above, in the above embodiment, the stripper and switch lever are mounted on the shafts provided on the intermediate lever, and the stripper contacts with the film roll supported by the body and the switch lever engages with a stop piece on the drive mechanism, and said switch lever interrelates with the initiating lever, so that by the operation of the initiating lever, the film is drawn out.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an embodiment for removing the slack of the film in advance of the drawing out operation of the film for stabilizing the operation, and which is assembled with the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. It is general that the film roll has a slack before the phototaking is made. It is therefore necessary to remove such slack for stabilizing the drawing out operation of the film leading edge. A drive gear 70, which is driven by a not-shown main drive shaft, and a lever 71 are pivotably mounted on a shaft 70 provided at the body. An idler 73 is pivotably mounted on one end 74 of the lever 71 for transmitting the rotation of the drive gear 70 to a follower 72, which is rotated when a reverse rotation is to be given to the film roll 1 to remove the initial slack of the film roll. At another end 75 of said lever 71 is provided a spring 76, of which another end being stopped by a pin 77 planted on the body, for imparting normally a clockwise rotation to the lever 71.

As explained before, when the initiating lever 4'is pushed to rotate clockwise, the stripper 2 rotates counterclockwise to contact with the film roll 1 and the switch lever 5 is rotated clockwise with the aid of the intermediate lever 3. On the way of clockwise rotation of the switch lever 5, the end portion 56 hits the end portion 75 of the lever 71 so that the rotation of the drive gear 70 is transmitted through the idle 71 to the shaft 72 to give a reverse rotation to the film 1 under the action of the stripper 2 as shown in FIG. 4 for removing the slack of the film. Then the initiating lever 4 is released from its push action, the lever 4 is rotated counterclockwise together with the intermediate lever 3 until it is stopped by the stopper 10. During this movement, the switch lever 5 rotates clockwise so that the end portion 56 of the lever 5 disengages from the end portion 75 of the lever 71 and hits the projection 65 of the drive mechanism 6 so as to rotate it counterclockwise to contact with the film roll. When the end portion 56 of theswitch lever 5 disengages from the end portion of the lever 71, the lever 71, drive gear 70 and idler 73 are rotated in unison clockwisely due to the spring 76, but the film roll 1 does not loose because the stripper 2 contacts the film roll 1 and the drive mechanism 6 rotates counterclockwise quickly to draw out the leading edge 11 of the film roll 1.

Further embodiment is explained with respect to FIGS. 6 through 9, which shows especially means for releasing the film from drawing out operation.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the film drawing out device in the state of the film being drawn out. In these figures, 101 is a film roll wound within a cartridge 107, of which the leading edge is shown by 111. The leading edge 111 is picked off from the film roll 101 by a stripper 102, on which a stopper 128 is provided in unison. An intermediate lever 103 is rotatably supported by a pin 187 provided on the body (FIG. 7), and an initiating lever 104 has sliding pins 141, 142, and 143, respectively, planted thereon, which are slidable within grooves 184, 185 and 186 fixedly provided on the body, and further the lever 104 has pins 144 and 145 engaged with curved grooves 124 and 125 of the stripper 102. A switch lever 105 is pivotably supported by said initiating lever 104 around the pin 105 and provided with a switch handle 105. One end 156 of the switch lever 105 is engageable with a lever 165 so as to rotate the drive mechanism 106 counterclockwise to contact with the film roll 101, and another end 153 of the switch lever 105 is engageable with a notch of the intermediate lever 103, which interlocks with means to release the stripper 2 from the engagement with the film roll 101. A spring 195 for returning the switch lever 105 is spanned between the pin 143 of the initiating lever 104 and the lever 105. Another spring 148 for returning the lever 104 is spanned between the lever 104 and the pin 188 planted on the body. A lever 109 is to control the movement of the stripper 102 and is supported by a pin 109 on the initiating lever 104 and is biased to rotate counterclockwise by a spring 109". One end 191 of the control lever 109 is restricted by a pin 189 on the body, and another end 192 of the lever 109 prevents the stripper 102 from releasing the engagement with the film 101 with the aid of the pin 128 on the stripper 102.

A spring 146 is spanned between said pin 128 of the stripper 102 and the initiating lever 104.

When the initiating lever 104 is moved rightwordly with the aid of handle 151 from the state of FIG. 8, the lever 109 is rotated clockwise due to the pin 189 so that the stripper 102 is rotated counterclockwise by the spring 146 to contact with the film roll 101, as shown in FIG. 6. As the initiating lever 104 moves, the switch lever 105 also moves to the right, and the end portion 153 engages with the notch 135 of the lever 103, and the other end 156 of the switch lever 105 hits the lever so as to rotate the drive mechanism 106. And the leading edge 11 1 of the film roll 101 is drawn out by the cooperation of the drive mechanism 106 and the stripper 102 and the leading edge 111 is led to the film gate portion not shown so as to be sent by a not shown conventional feed pawl at the film gate. At this time, the contact of the stripper and the drive mechanism with the film become a useless load so that it is preferable to release such contact. For this purpose, a magnet 100, which is preferably interlocked with a not shown conventional means for sensing the presence or absence of the film at the film gate, is provided, and when the film is sensed at the film gate, the sensing switch energizes said magnet 100 to pull the end of the intermediate lever 103 to rotate it counterclockwise to disengage the notch 135 from the end portion 153. Consequently, the switch lever 105 rotates counterclockwise by the spring 195 and release the lever 165 from the end portion 156 of the switch 105 to rotate the drive mechanism clockwise. On the other hand, the initiating lever goes back by the spring 148, and the lever 109 to tates counterclockwise by the spring 109" to rotate the stripper 102 clockwise. Thus all the elements restoreto the respective positions shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In the above described embodiments, where cartridge type film roll is used, it is not possible to see from the outside of the cine projector the volume of the film wound around the reel so that it is preferable observe it from outside.

FIG. 10 shows such counting device to detect the remaining volume of the film within the cartridge. In FIG. 10, a shutter blade 202 and a pulley 203 are unitary provided on the shutter shaft 201, and the pulley 203 is rotated by a not shown driving source through a belt 204. On the shutter shaft 201, a worm gear 205 is also mounted, which is in mesh with a worm wheel 206 provided on a shaft 206, on one end of which a worm gear 207 is provided. The worm gear 207 is connected to a mechanical counter 208 so as to transmit its rotation thereto.

As shown, the counter 208 is provided at a portion of the projector where it is observed from outside of the projector. And an adjusting knob 209 is provided for controlling the counter to enable to indicate the remaining volume of the film. It ispreferable that the counter is of the type in which, as similar to a digital counter, the driving system is reversibly rotated so as to returning the counter to an initial position. Moreover, it is preferable that the indicating number of the counter can be changed.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show another embodiment of the counter, which is advantageously used commonly to different size cartridges having different volumes of the film such as used for cine projector, micro film reader, tape recorder and so on. In accordance with this embodiment, a counter for detecting the difference in size and shape of the cartridge is provided, and with the aid of detected signal the remaining volume of the film is indicated.

The initial setting of the counter is made by a signal initiating the operation of the counter in accordance with the internal volume of the cartridge. In FIGS. 11 and 12, 301a, 301b, 3010, and 301d show cartridges, respectively, having different internal volumes of the film. The counter is located, in the drawing, at a position corresponding to the cartridge 301C; and 302a, 302b, 3020 and 302d show pins under the bias of springs for detecting the cartridge. These pins are guided as shown in FIG. 12 by a fixed member 303. When a cartridge is not loaded, these pins are projected into the cartridge chamber, but when a cartridge is loaded pin or pins are depressed from the chamber and project into the moving path of a volume detecting member 304, which are biaxially guided by shafts 308 and 309 described later. A volume set member 305 is also biaxially guided by shafts 308 and 309, and when the operation of a cine projector starts, the member 305 is moved rightwardly by a not member, and at this time, the stripper and drive mechanism are actuated to draw out the leading edge of the film as described before. A compression spring 307 is inserted between the set member 305 and the detecting member 304, and shafts 308' and 309 are guide shafts for both members 304 and 305 and the shaft 308 is fixed to the body, while the shaft 309 is rotatably supported by the projector body. The shaft 309 has as its one end a screw portion 310 having saw-tooth shape cross section, which is engageable with an indicating member 311 having a pointer 311a and a portion 311b engageable with the screw portion 310. A shaft 312 is to guide the indicating member 311 and fixedly provided at the projector body and provides with a spring 313. A scale 314 is provided facing with said pointer 311a so as to be visible from outside.

When a'cartridge 3010 is loaded as shown in FIG. 12, pins 302a, 302b and 302C, namely, all the pins except pin 302d, are pushed by the side surface of the cartridge 3010. Then the set member 305 is moved to the right to push the spring 307 rightwardly which'in turn pushes the volume detecting member 304 rightwardly until it is stopped by the pin 302C. The indicating member 311 is energized by the spring 313 so as that the portion 311b contacts with the screw 310 and the indicating member 311 itself abuts the detecting member 304 as shown in FIG. 11. It is to be noted that the energy of the spring 313 should be smaller than that of the spring 307. Thus the pointer 311a is set at a position of the scale 314, for example, 200 feet which corresponds to the internal volume of the cartridge 301C used in this embodiment. The shaft 309 with the screw 310 is interconnected to a not shown conventional film sending mechanism so that the shaft 309 is rotatedas the film sending mechanism is actuated. As the screw 310 is rotated, the portion 311b moves guided by a saw tooth so that the remaining volume of film is always indicated.

An element 315 is a detecting pin for sensing the presence or absence of a cartridge and is located at a position common to all of the kinds of the cartridge. When the cartridge is unloaded, the pin 315 will project into the cartridge chamber, and it is preferable to interlock this movement of the pin 315 with a not shown member to disengage the indicating member 311 from the screw 310 so as to return the pointer 31 la to a position indicating the maximum volume 400 feet.

Moreover, it is advantageous if this returning operation of the pointer 311a is actuated by a signal of rewinding the film when the exposure of the film of the cartridge is finished.

FIG. 13 shows a conventional cartridge in which a predetermined reel is included. FIG. 14, shows an open cartridge of this invention in which an open reel is mounted on the projector through the open cartridge. When the cartridge as shown in. FIG. 13 is used, the reel is completely included within the cartridge. So that there is many restriction to the reel itself, for example, the thickness of the reel. In FIG. 13, the cartridge comprises a bottom portion A which is to be fixed to the projector body omitted in the drawing, and a cover portion C, which mates with the bottom portion A. A reel B is inserted and then the cover C is closed, and in the real shaft D, the film winding up shaft is engaged.

FIG. 14 shows the relationship between the open cartridge and the open reel of this invention, in which E shows an open cartridge, which is to be fixed to the body of the projector by a latch. In this embodiment, the open cartridge covers one surface of the reel but the other surface of the reel is completely exposed, so that it is very easy to load a film on the open reel.

It is necessary that the engagement of the reel shaft D with a shaft provided at the body and the engagement of the film roll with film drawing up mechanism are to be arranged interchangeable with the conventional cartridge. The open cartridge E, as shown in FIGS. a, 15b and 150, comprises a hole 401 for receiving a rewinding shaft, a disc shaped bottom 402, a flange 404, and a not flanged recessed portion 405 and latching portions 403 and 403 The recessed portion 405 has a shape as shown to remain the portion for guiding the leading edge of the film to feed the film at a correct position. The portion F shown in FIG. 2 is a relief for easily loading and unloading the reel.

When this open cartridge is mounted onto the projector, the film wound around the open reel can be operated as the same as the conventional cartridge, and this open cartridge is very conveniently used for the present invention as exemplified before.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for removing film from a cartridge in combination with a cine projector comprising:

a film means pivotally mounted to said cine projector;

an initiating lever means pivotally mounted to said cine projector and having an elongated slot formed therein;

an intermediate lever pivotally mounted to said cine projector;

a switch lever having a pin protruding therefrom, said switch lever being pivotally mounted to said intermediate lever and said pin being slidably engaged in said elongated slot;

a stripper means pivotally mounted to said intermediate lever whereby rotation of said initiating lever in a first direction initiates rotation of said intermediate lever and said switch lever in said first direction to cause rotation of said stripper means in a second direction to engage thereby said film in said cartridge and to cause said switch lever to engage said film drive means to move said film drive means into engagement with the film in said cartridge.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein means are provided for rotating the film in said cartridge in a direction opposite to the direction in which said film drive means withdraws film from said cartridge thereby removing slack in said film.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a means is provided for connecting said initiating lever with said cine projector to cause said intermediate member to rotate in said second direction after engagement of said stripping means with said film.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein a means is provided to restrict rotation of said intermediate member in said second direction after engagement of said stripping means with said film to rotate said switch means in said first direction thereby engaging said film drive means whereby said film drive means rotates in said second direction and contacts said film in said cartridge.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the apparatus further comprises a releasing means to disengage the switch lever from the film drive means.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the apparatus further comprises a counter for detecting and counting the volume of the film remaining in the cartridge.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the cartridge includes an orifice for receiving a rewinding shaft of the projector, a disc type bottom portion, a flange portion extended upwardly from the bottom portion, a recessed portion, and latching portions. 

1. An apparatus for removing film from a cartridge in combination with a cine projector comprising: a film means pivotally mounted to said cine projector; an initiating lever means pivotally mounted to said cine projector and having an elongated slot formed therein; an intermediate lever pivotally mounted to said cine projector; a switch lever having a pin protruding therefrom, said switch lever being pivotally mounted to said intermediate lever and said pin being slidably engaged in said elongated slot; a stripper means pivotally mounted to said intermediate lever whereby rotation of said initiating lever in a first direction initiates rotation of said intermediate lever and said switch lever in said first direction to cause rotation of said stripper means in a second direction to engage thereby said film in said cartridge and to cause said switch lever to engage said film drive means to move said film drive means into engagement with the film in said cartridge.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein means are provided for rotating the film in said cartridge in a direction opposite to the direction in which said film drive means withdraws film from said cartridge thereby removing slack in said film.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a means is provided for connecting said initiating lever with said cine projector to cause said intermediate member to rotate in said second direction after engagement of said stripping means with said film.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein a means is provided to restrict rotation of said intermediate member in said second direction after engagement of said stripping means with said film to rotate said switch means in said first direction thereby engaging said film drive means whereby said film drive means rotates in said second direction and contacts said film in said cartridge.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the apparatus further comprises a releasing means to disengage the switch lever from the film drive means.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the apparatus further comprises a counter for detecting and counting the volume of the film remaining in the cartridge.
 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the cartridge includes an orifice for receiving a rewinding shaft of the projector, a disc type bottom portion, a flange portion extended upwardly from the bottom portion, a recessed portion, and latching portions. 